Secret in Their Eyes (2015)
Secret in Their Eyes is a 2015 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Billy Ray and a remake of the 2009 Argentine film of the same name, both based on the novel La pregunta de sus ojos author Eduardo Sacheri. The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Dean Norris, and Michael Kelly.
The film was released by STX Entertainment on November 20, 2015. It received mixed reception from critics, who praised its performances but compared it unfavourably to the original.
In Los Angeles, FBI counter-terrorism investigator Ray Kasten (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and district attorney's investigator Jess Cobb (Julia Roberts) go about their day in the office. Newly hired assistant DA Claire Sloan (Nicole Kidman), an attractive Harvard graduate, is gaining Ray's attention. Jess is pushing Ray to ask Claire out, to Ray's disapproval, since Claire recently became engaged. While Jess and Ray bicker, they receive a call about an unknown female's body found in a dumpster near a mosque that Ray is investigating for possible terror links. Arriving on the scene, Ray takes the first look at the body and is deeply shocked to see that it is Jess's daughter, Carolyn (Zoe Graham), raped, brutally murdered and bleached inside and out. Jess is distraught when she learns the news and breaks down. Ray vows to find the suspect and do justice.
During the investigation, Jess feels the increasing need to move away from the city. While helping Jess pack, Ray notices pictures from the police station picnic day and a young man staring at Carolyn in all the photos. After Ray finds no leads with the police officers for the identity of the young man, causing intense frustration, he begins scanning the system for a matching photo. He identifies the suspect, Marzin (Joe Cole), and his address. Ray brings Detective Bumpy Willis (Dean Norris) to help investigate.
At Marzin's home, the two find and recover a suspicious-looking comic book, within which they find a pattern that reveals Marzin's location. Marzin is tracked down and arrested. Claire argues with Ray over his methods, citing the evidence as inadmissible because of improper protocol and conflict of interest. She almost releases Marzin during his interrogation, but hesitates and changes her mind when she catches Marzin attempting to look under her blouse. Claire taunts Marzin, leading him to unzip his pants, expose himself and attack Claire. Ray beats Marzin, who is ultimately let go because of his status as a government informant. Jess, Claire, and Ray are disappointed and argue with District Attorney Martin Morales (Alfred Molina), who refuses to pursue the case due to lack of evidence and reluctance to lose an informant. After his release, Marzin's van is found burned, destroying all evidence against him. With the loss of her daughter, Jess becomes a tormented shell of a person and regresses into anti-social behavior. Ray pledges himself to never stop looking for Carolyn's killer, but transfers to the private sector and gets a job in security.
Thirteen years later, Ray returns to Los Angeles after uncovering a new lead against Marzin that he feels can permanently resolve the case. Jess insists that the matter is closed. Ray and Claire are reunited once again, their attraction now obvious. Ray discovers that Jess had kidnapped her daughter's murderer thirteen years prior and has been keeping him in a cage at her isolated farmhouse.
Ray confronts Jess and Marzin. A conversation occurs with Marzin begging to ask Jess to talk to him. Ray pulls out his gun and leaves it with Jess and Marzin as he goes outside and begins digging a grave. A gunshot is heard, and Jess walks outside and gives Ray a look of relief
Secret in Their Eyes
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Produced by
Screenplay by
Based on
Starring
Music by
Cinematography
Edited by
Production
companies
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Release date
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Matt Jackson
Billy Ray
La pregunta de sus ojos
by Eduardo Sacheri
Jim Page
Gran Via Productions
Route One
Site Productions
Union Investment Partners
Willies Movies AIE
November 11, 2015(Los Angeles premiere)
November 20, 2015(United States)
111 minutes[1]
United States
English
$19.5 million[2]
$32.2 million